Content Intro

Exceptional Family Member Program

When you're moving, your to-do list can seem long enough to fill a packing box. But if your family has special medical or educational needs, help is available before, during and after your move. Enrollment in the Exceptional Family Member Program provides military families with special needs considerations during the assignment process and access to support services to help navigate the medical and educational system.

Subtopics

Identification and enrollment ensures that special needs – diagnosis, frequency of care, medications and special accommodations – are documented.

Assignment coordination requires information about special needs to be taken into account when the service member is considered for a new assignment.

Family support provides information and referral for military and community services, and non-clinical case management services.

Family members ‒ a spouse, child, or dependent adult ‒ with documented special medical and/or educational needs are required to enroll in the program. This includes family members who:

Require special medical services for a chronic condition, which may include but is not limited to asthma, diabetes, behavioral health, multiple sclerosis, etc.

Receive ongoing service from a medical specialist

Receive early intervention services or special education services (birth through age 21)

Enrollment in the EFMP is mandatory for active-duty service members and ensures that family members' documented medical and/or educational needs are considered during the assignment coordination process. Through the EFMP family support office, families can receive assistance with navigating military and community support systems.

Families can enroll by obtaining paperwork from the EFMP medical point of contact at their local military treatment facility, the EFMP liaison, or in the Marine Corps, from Marine Corps Community Services. The forms for enrollment are:

Department of Defense Form 2792: Family Member Medical SummaryThe service member, spouse or adult family member completes the demographic information. The family member's physician or other qualified medical professional completes the rest and includes the diagnosis, frequency of care, medication and any special accommodations the family member requires.

The military mission is the driving force behind the assignment process, but enrollment in the EFMP ensures that family members' documented needs are considered in the process. Assignment coordination occurs when the personnel command requests that Department of Defense medical or educational professionals review a family member's documented needs to determine availability of services at a projected location. Assignment coordination is important because access to appropriate medical and/or educational services may be limited in some areas, especially in overseas and remote locations. This process helps to eliminate the need for compassionate reassignments or early returns of dependents.

The EFMP family support function is provided by EFMP family support staff located at the Military and Family Support Center.

Exceptional Family Member Program family support helps service members and their families identify and access programs and services. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:

Information and referrals for military and community services

Education and outreach

Information about available local school and early intervention services

Warm handoffs to the Exceptional Family Member Program at new locations

Non-clinical case management, including individualized services plans

Along with installation services, families with special needs have enhanced support through EFMP ROC – a ready, one-source access to Resources, Options and Consultations through Military OneSource. Families can consult subject matter experts on topics including education, the military health care system, TRICARE coverage, state and federal programs and more. Call 800-342-9647 or live chat at any time to schedule a specialty consultation by phone or video.

Access your local installation EFMP family support program by visiting your local Military and Family Support Center or by finding the contact information for your local installation at MilitaryINSTALLATIONS.

In addition to the support available from the installation Military and Family Support Centers and Military OneSource consultants, MilitaryINSTALLATIONS provides some suggestions for making the transition easier as your child enters a new school system following a move to a new duty station. The article, "Preparing for Your Move," provides tips for what to do prior to and after your move to help create a smooth transfer between schools.

Additionally, military families can learn about the Education Directory for Children with Special Needs for information on special needs issues and listings of national and local resources for early intervention (for infants and toddlers) and special education (for school-age children) services. These directories and other available resources are located on Military OneSource.

The Exceptional Family Member Program has three important components: identification and enrollment, assignment coordination, and family support.

Identification and enrollment ensures that special needs – diagnosis, frequency of care, medications and special accommodations – are documented. Visit the Army EFMP site to learn more about the Army EFMP assignment and screening process,

Assignment coordination process ensures EFMP-enrolled Soldiers’ family members’ special needs requirements are considered when an enrolled Soldier is identified for a permanent change of station. Learn more about the Army’s Assignment Process on U.S. Army Human Resources Command.

Family support is provided by EFMP Family Support providers at the installation Military and Family Support Centers. EFMP Family Support provides information and referrals for military and community services, and non-clinical case management services. To learn more about the Army EMFP Family Support resources and information, visit Army OneSource.

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